Peter John Flannery is an Australian politician currently serving as the mayor of the City of Moreton Bay in Queensland, Australia's third most-populous local government area.
Political career Flannery served as a Caboolture Shire Councillor from 2004 to 2008.
He served as Councillor for Division 2 of the Moreton Bay Region from 2012 to 2020.
Flannery was elected mayor of the Moreton Bay Regional Council in 2020. In July 2023 during his tenure, the Moreton Bay Region was renamed the City of Moreton Bay.
Homelessness controversy On 12 December 2024, Flannery instigated a council ban on the homeless sleeping in vans or other vehicles deemed equipped for camping, along with a ban on the homeless keeping pet animals. Alexandra Feiam, ‘Deeply concerning: Council bans homeless people sleeping in vans and keeping pets’, The Australian, 23 December, 2024 Flannery subsequently justified this action by claiming illegal behaviour by some of the homeless and that the pet animals constituted a threat. Carly Bass, ‘Fury over Aussie Council's horrific move to crack down on rough sleepers and illegal camping’, Yahoo News, 17 December, 2024; and Zak Wheller, ‘Moreton Bay Mayor reveals why his Council banned the homeless from keeping pets – after the controversial move sparked a furious backlash’ Daily Mail Australia, 23 December, 2024. He also indicated that the situation was unacceptable and that he would stand for it no longer. Duncan Evans, ‘City of Moreton Bay in Qld votes to prohibit homeless Aussie from keeping pets in public places’, The Australian, 18 December, 2024. There was an immediate community outcry following the decision, with the issue gaining nationwide media coverage Kenji Sato, ‘City of Moreton Bay bans sleeping in vans for homeless people, ABC, 17 December 2024; Carly Bass, ‘Fury over Assie Council's horrific move to crack down on rough sleepers and illegal camping’, Yahoo News, 17 December, 2024; Duncan Evans, ‘City of Moreton Bay in Qld votes to prohibit homeless Aussie from keeping pets in public places’, The Australian, 18 December, 2024; and Alexandra Feiam, ‘Deeply concerning: Council bans homeless people sleeping in vans and keeping pets’, The Australian, 23 December, 2024. and critics calling the Council out of touch and heartless, especially bearing in mind there is often no realistic alternative to sleeping in a car or van, and that pet animals are often a source of much-needed comfort to the homeless.
References